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How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
This is awesome.
Great job WSully. This has inspired me to look into PIDding my Nemox. I will have to find out what minor differences have to be done compared to when PIDding a Silvia.
Very well done again. Thanks for putting the time and effort into it.
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
Wow thats amazing WSully - great job! Im a bit clueless but my mate reckons he can do this for me in the next few weeks. Thanks so much for posting this
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
Thread split off and made a "Sticky". This thread removed from "Sticky"... [link=http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1246334170/0#0]New thread here[/link]
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
Originally posted by 6C684E5757524D5A553B0 link=1245243662/16#16 date=1245660061
Hey jim, could you confirm that a RTD will produce a temp reading to .1 of a degree as opposed to 1 degree increments from a k-type? if so.....do you sell em?
This is controller-dependent.
In the Watlow line that we carry, the SD series and the 96 series will display 0.1 degree resolution with either thermocouples or RTDs.
The 935, however, will only display 0.1 using an RTD.
We dont use RTDs, for a variety of reasons. First, thermocouples work very well in this application, are very robust and durable, and have fast response time. Second, some of the RTDs weve seen offered are quite large, and by accounts weve read online, can be difficult to thermally "bond" to the boiler.
Perhaps when/if we encounter an RTD sensor that responds quickly enough to changes in boiler temperature, we will offer it as an option.
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
Im working on the word version of the guide ladies and gents, which is a million times easier to write, and ill convert it to pdf for download, it will be finished by the end of the weekend at the latest, sorry to those who are waiting for it......
getting there!
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
thanks jim, i may sound like im blowing your trumpet a bit, i just want everyone to know that your kits are second to none, the world wide web is a big place and i havent heard a bad word about them.
I will start working on a PDF version of this guide with Jims suggestions included for safety sake, should be done in a couple of days for download.
Hey jim, could you confirm that a RTD will produce a temp reading to .1 of a degree as opposed to 1 degree increments from a k-type? if so.....do you sell em?
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
thanks jim, I will make those changes asap, as I stated at the start, Im in no way an expert,you clearly are an industry professional,thanks for the tips
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
WSully -
Very accurate and thorough set of pictures and instructions. Allow me to point out a few additional things that we try and address in our kits:
I think it is a very good idea to add an insulating cover over the SSR. There is not enough room between the stainless steel lower panel and the high voltage terminals on the SSR for me to be comfortable without having an insulating barrier.
Along these same lines, be sure that there is no exposed metal where the new wires connect to the old thermostat wires above the boiler. We use a fully jacketed connector here in our kits, just to be sure there is no way for high voltage to come into contact with the cup warmer surface once things are closed up.
As an alternative, you might want to consider adding a short piece of heat shrink tubing around these connections.
I think you will get better response from your thermocouple if you mount it directly against the brass boiler surface, rather than above the mounting brackets.
I really like your use of a simple beaded t/c probe this way. Ive rigged up one of our test machines here with that kind of sensor, and it works very well. My only caution is to avoid flexing the wire once it has been mounted this way, since there is no opportunity for strain relief, and the solid t/c wire can easily break.
For wiring inside an appliance, I think it is best to use wire that has the proper UL or CSA listing. The original wiring inside the machine carries a UL 1015 AWM listing. This is a tinned, stranded copper wire, with fairly thick PVC insulation.
Sorry if this sounds like nitpicking, but attention to small details like this can mean the difference between a successful project and a noisy, flashy one
Re: How to PID a Rancilio Silvia - A Step by Step Guide
You did a great job WSully... probably not for everyone to take this quest.... certainly I couldnt do it... hehehe... Thanks for the hard work .. [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=dankk2.gif]
If youre planning on doing another Guide... show us how to adjust the OPV pleaseeeeee.. :P ;D
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